A copyright option refers to the way authors can retain certain rights while still allowing their work to be openly accessible. These licenses enable authors to specify how others can use their work, balancing the need for openness with the protection of their rights. For more information on reusing Sage content, please visit Reusing Open Access and Sage Choice Content.

What are the copyright options in Sage Journals: Licensing & Payment?

The Sage Open Access platform offers authors essentially five different copyright options. The choices are as follows: 

1. The copyright to the Contribution is owned by you. 
2. U.S. Government department work 
3. Other Government department work (not U.S.). 
4. Work made for hire for employer/Work done in the course of employment (non-government). 
5. Multiple options

Please check the below information about the copyright option:

1. The copyright to the Contribution is Owned by you: You represent and warrant that the copyright to the Contribution is owned by the authors.
2. U.S. Government Department Work: You are employee(s) of the United States Government and prepared the Contribution as part of your official duties.
3. Other Government Department Work (Not U.S.):  You are employee(s) of the Government of the country and prepared the Contribution as part of your official duties. 
4. Work Made for Hire for Employer/Work Done in the Course of Employment (Non-Government): The Contribution was prepared by you at the direction of your employer and within the scope of your employment and copyright in the Contribution is owned by your employer. 
5. Multiple options: In some cases, contributions may involve more than one of the above scenarios, this option allows authors to choose more than one copyright option. 

Can I change my copyright option?

• If authors wish to change their copyright option or license, please email openaccess@sagepub.com.
• Upon receiving your request, our team will assess whether the article is eligible for the requested license. If eligible, you will be provided with an offline license form to complete with your information and copyright preferences. Subsequently, you'll need to share the signed and scanned form with the Open Access team so they can update our records. 

Contact Information

For further assistance, contact the Open Access Customer Services team at openaccess@sagepub.com.